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 KYE RUIGROK puts some questions to vocalist ALEXI ‘SOULSISTA’ KAY and guitarist/vocalist AARON ‘AZA’ HOUSTON of highly entertaining Sydney roots-funkers EXTENDED FAMILY, soon to headline the Sunshine Coast Blues Festival.
KYE RUIGROK: How would you describe Extended Family to the uninitiated?
ALEXI KAY: Frank Zappa, Robert Johnson and James Brown decide to put an album together...
AZA HOUSTON: It’s like a big breakfast – you get a little bit of everything, a bit of Frank Zappa (eggs), Son House (mushrooms), James Brown (Bacon) and the Temptations (tomatoes), and we’re the bread to go with everything.
KR: Extended Family were originally known as ‘Panda’ – why did you choose to change the name?
AK: Pandas are lovely but they don’t give birth that often. Also – our good friend Dave Maitland, wrote a song inspired by us (so he says) called Extended Family, hoping to catch the essence of what we were trying to be about – ie, that music is about community and not about competition, and that music is inclusive and is the right of all... The name Extended Family seemed to reflect that aspect of the band. Oh and it was getting confusing with The Panda Band from WA for the bookers, venue owners, publicists, etc...
KR: Are you excited to be coming up and playing at the Sunshine Coast Blues festival?
AK: Does a bear look forward to his first meal after coming out of hibernation?
AH: Our love of performing is best experienced at festivals, especially blues festivals because the crowd really appreciates what they’re listening to, and are not there mainly to pick up a stray...
KR: Which other bands on the bill are you looking forward to seeing?
AH: Hatz Fitz is one performer I always manage to just miss out on seeing, but have heard so much about so that will be my priority. Ray Beadle and Mojo Webb, always love hearing those guys play, and their bands are so tight. But the beauty of a blues festival is that there are so many golden gems you wouldn’t have heard of that you stumble across.
KR: I understand Extended Family member Milica has just left the band. Where you surprised at her decision, or was it something the band had been aware of for some time?
AK: Milica has been an integral part of Extended Family’s journey. She helped to create it, and kept it running for a long time! She was always there, always working hard for all of us, always giving us her best. She deserves to be putting this energy into other things at this time in her life if that is what she would like to do. We respect her and love her very much. We think she’s the best.
KR: It’s probably an obvious question given your name, but is a band like a family?
AK: Ummm ... imagine being married to not one, but four people all at once. Yes, a band is definitely like a family. You share dreams, finances, sometimes beds. You know each other’s reactions, weaknesses and strengths. You find them annoying, you love them, you always come back to loving them. You are tied by bonds of a similar trait – passion for living in music. You are always around each other, you know them drunk, you know them sad, you know them angry, you know them. You just can’t get away from them. Their sweat becomes your sweat, their breath your breath. No matter how far your road may take you away from them – you are bound by these ties and this experience. Family – yes!
KR: What sort of influence has being a totally independent band had on the way you go about things?
AK: The riders are small. In all seriousness being independent has made us stronger.
AH: Well, being independent you get have control over a lot of your own decisions in all facets. It is also hard trying to balance finances because no one is feeding you money, so you become accountants as well. So basically you are running a business and being a performer at the same time.
KR: As Extended Family play more widely and become better known, are you finding the crowds at your shows have become more diverse?
AK: The thing is, over the years one of the consistent factors of Extended Family’s audiences is that they have been diverse. Children through to the young crowd through to older folks – they all get into the vibe.
AH: That has become one of our strongest characteristics, that it seems there has become no demographic with our music, and hopefully we can continue that broad musical expression. It’s an amazing feeling to write a song that can appeal to so many age groups.
KR: What do you hope an audience takes away from an Extended Family show?
AK: Love. A sense of fun. Excitement at some great music. Great tunes played by five slightly weird people who truly love music and its gifts.
AH: A piece of us in some form – hopefully the drummer, he can be so annoying when he’s single.
KR: What’s next for Extended Family?
AK: Coming back up to QLD for the Caloundra Music Festival in October, which will be awesome. Also recording our new tunes!
EXTENDED FAMILY play the Sunshine Coast Blues Festival at Nambour Showgrounds Sep 12-14, alongside Mojo Webb, Hat Fitz, Ray Beadle, Mason Rack and more. Weekend tickets are $70, available from www.oztix.com.au or 1300 762 545. The full program can be found at www.blues.com.au
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